Ever feel like life is moving too fast? Despite the world slowing down over the past year, it’s probably fair to say we’ve all been caught up in world events and making sure the ones we love are okay. But have you stopped to check-in on you?

It might seem obvious, but if you don’t look after number one, then it makes supporting others around you more difficult. Self-care isn’t about taking a trip to the spa and listening to whale song. It’s about prioritising you, taking ownership of your physical, emotional, and financial health. Investing time in you will be the most profitable investment you will make.

Investing time in you

You might catch yourself saying “there’s not enough time in the day”. Yet, more often than not, we come to this conclusion before we take a good look at how we’re spending our time.

What about the time spent looking through emails, watching mindless TV or scrolling through social media? It’s not to say that you shouldn’t spend time on these things, but perhaps consider limiting or reducing your time spent on activities that don’t fulfil you.

In the TED article here, Celeste Headlee speaks of the “busyness delusion”. She proposes that we have more than enough time, but we need to start believing it.

The higher the time perception a person has, the more likely they are to be aware of their schedule and make room for essential ‘me-time’. Down-time allows you to reflect and refocus, perpetuating a feeling that you have more time.

On the other hand, people with lower time perception might lose track of time doing less fulfilling things. As a result, this person might feel overwhelmed or stressed.

And if you’re lucky enough to feel like you have nothing but time, here is our list of positive actions to help keep you busy.

What does wealth mean to you?

What we value is subjective to each person. After all, one person’s rags are another person’s riches. Uncovering your visions and values is key to the financial planning process. And, the ultimate goal is you end up doing more of them.

Spending time on the things you value the most, being in the present, and allowing yourself the time to invest in your health and wellness, relationships, work, or whatever it is that gives you fulfilment.

As we get older, we have more responsibilities, more relationships, and suddenly there are so many other elements in the picture. But, it’s still your picture. It’s okay to keep yourself in the foreground. It’s not selfish; it will allow you to have more to give.

The golden triangle of happiness

We spend our entire lifetime becoming who we are supposed to be, which means we also spend this time figuring out what makes us happy. And it isn’t linear. Things that make us happy at one stage in our lives might not at another point in our lives. And that’s why you need to give yourself time to reflect on where you are, how you’re doing, and what would make you happier.

Ultimately, happiness is an ongoing project. So, let’s delve into a concept that helps identify the different elements contributing to our wellbeing and happiness.

Since 2001, the Australian Unity has tracked the happiness of Aussies in their Wellbeing Index. This index looks at how satisfied people are across three categories that make up the “golden triangle of happiness”; personal relationships, financial control and a sense of purpose.

Love – Personal relationships – Having close relationships with people and feeling comfortable enough to share your stories with the ones you love.

Wealth – Financial control – Less about financial gain making an individual happier, and more about feeling empowered, knowing what you have is enough.

Worth – A sense of purpose – Finding your reason for being, the thing that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning.

All three elements apply to everyone. All three are connected. What’s different is the importance and balance for each person. Your angles will change as life progresses, but trying to maintain those 60-degree angles is crucial for a happy, balanced life.

We know you’re probably busy spinning lots of plates while having to adapt to the changes in the world. However, this is our friendly reminder to take time out to focus on yourself and your needs.

Part of our role as financial planners is to build a clear picture of your financial situation, so you feel in control of your finances, and have more time to do the things you want to do.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your finances or an existing financial plan, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and speak to one of our professional financial planners.